BMW 7 Series

The new BMW 7 Series was introduced to the world in Munich during June 2015. BMW aimed to decrease the weight of the new version. They did so by using lighter weight materials in the make-up of the vehicle. One such material is carbon-fibre-reinforced-polymer. This reduces bulk and increases vehicle efficiencies. Whether you are driving or being driven, the name of the game with the 7 Series is luxury – and for this you will pay a hefty sum.

Performance

There are a variety of engines available at the moment. The new generation 6-cylinder 3 litre diesel engine in the 730d is offering owners 265 bhp and 620Nm of torque. If it’s more horses you want you can pay a little more for the 740d xDrive, which will bring that figure up to 320 bhp.

The 3.0 litre BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder petrol engine in the 740i and the 740Li generates 326 bhp. BMW claims that this engine can offer a combined fuel economy of between 6.6 and 7.0 litres per 100km – that might of course depend on whether or not you are driving Miss Daisy.

For the really enthusiastic 7 Series driver there will be an 8-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine available that mixes two turbochargers with the direct petrol injection and the valve control. This means that the engine will achieve a maximum output of 450 bhp and maximum torque of 650Nm.

Ride & Handling

This is the longest vehicle that BMW has ever made – the 7 Series proper and the Ld or Li versions measure in at between 5.1 and 5.2 metres. With this length in mind you would fear that this vehicle might have some obvious issues when it comes to handling, etc. Not so, this handles frightfully well when you consider the size of it, and while the steering is very light in all driving modes, it is precise and direct. For extra driving comfort opt for the Active Chassis Control system – it helps to keep body roll in check.

Refinement

All engines available at the moment with the 7 Series are more than capable of comfortably keeping this 1.755kg kerb weight vehicle in tow. There is some minor road noise from the exterior mirror mounts, but apart from that the sound insulation around this vehicle is superb.

Quality & Reliability

Luxury is the name of the game in the 7 Series. Pretty much every nook and cranny of this vehicle is brimming with refinement. There are no cheap plastics, because there are very few plastics. At last BMW has built a machine that can offer some realistic competition to the incredible Mercedes-Benz S-Class. This car is excellently kitted out for both driver and passenger.

The infotainment systems to the front and rear of this vehicle are of top quality. Also available is gesture control, which allows the driver to control the infotainment system through making certain hand gestures beside the system.

Safety & Security

There is a large amount of driver aids in this vehicle to ensure passenger safety. Apart from adequate airbags, the vehicle also offers; parking systems, interactive traffic sign updating, a device that keeps the vehicle safely in lane, a night vision system, isofix child seats and laser headlights. The seven Series has not been independently tested by the Euro NCAP.

Space & Practicality

The 7-Series is a limousine, which means that there is an abundance of space everywhere in this vehicle. The normal model measures in at 5.09 metres and this space is used for comfort and luxury. If you want more space you can opt for the Ld or Li versions, which offers an extra 140mm.